At least 53 Yemeni soldiers were killed and around 200 others wounded when Houthi ballistic missiles struck a military camp in Yemen's southeastern Shabwa province on Monday, according to Yemeni officials.

The attack reportedly targeted a gathering of military recruits at the facility, causing heavy casualties. The Houthis acknowledged carrying out the strike.

The incident marks a major escalation in Yemen's conflict and raises concerns about further fighting between Houthi forces and government-aligned troops.

Shabwa occupies a strategically important position in southern Yemen, where control of military facilities, transport routes and energy infrastructure remains contested.

The latest violence also comes amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf region.

The attack could complicate efforts to prevent Yemen's conflict from expanding into a wider regional confrontation.